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MONTREAL – Two of the main attractions at UFC 113, including one who could have earned a title shot with a victory on Saturday night, will be looking for work elsewhere.

Kevin (Kimbo Slice) Ferguson and Paul Daley are both going to be cut from the company, Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White announced at the post-event press conference at the Bell Centre. While fighters are released and brought back regularly, that will not happen for Daley, White said adamantly.

The Brit stunned onlookers by sucker-punching opponent Josh Koscheck several seconds after their co-main event, a welterweight match to decide the No. 1 contender to Canadian Georges St-Pierre’s title. Koscheck, a former NCAA wrestling champion, used his skills on the mat to neutralize Daley’s stand-up punching power and grind out an easy decision.

As Koscheck was celebrating his performance, Daley came from behind and connected with a left uppercut before referee Dan Miragliotta grabbed Daley and threw him against the cage. White hurried into the ring and gave Daley a tongue-lashing, while Koscheck shuffled away from a potential scuffle to the other side of the ring gave Daley the finger and smiled.

“It was probably his best punch of the night,” Koscheck said.

White was angry and disappointed at what Daley did. The UFC president says he is probably the most lenient executive in sports, and that UFC is one of the most lenient organizations. He acknowledges that people make mistakes but says “there is no excuse" for Daley’s post-fight actions.

“He’s done. I don’t give a (expletive) if he’s the best 170-pounder in the world. He’ll never come back here again,” White said.

“These guys are professional athletes. You don’t ever hit a guy that blatantly after the bell, whether you’re frustrated or not.”

The build-up to the match was filled with trash talk from both contestants and the tension boiled over. In the final minute of the match, with Koscheck blanketing Daley on the mat, he whispered some pointed words into Daley’s ear. “It wasn’t very polite,” conceded Koscheck, who wouldn’t elaborate on what he said.

He alleged that Daley then gouged his eyes, saying that he was having trouble seeing out of his right eye following the match.

Whatever was said or done before or during the bout doesn’t matter, White said. When the final horn rang out, it should all have been in the past.

“It’s probably one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen. (Daley) is a talented guy. He is one of the best 170-pounders in the world,” White said.

But sometimes talent isn’t enough.

“I don’t care if he fights in every show all over the world and becomes the best and everybody thinks he’s the pound-for-pound best in the world. He will never fight in UFC ever again. Done.”

White, while announcing Slice’s pending release, was much more kind when talking about the street fighter-turned-mixed martial artist.

Slice lost to Matt Mitrione via second-round TKO in their heavyweight bout at UFC 113.

“I’ve got nothing but respect for Kimbo,” White said.

Those words are a far cry from the days he called Slice a bum and merely an Internet creation, as Slice was making the transition from YouTube favourite to legitimate competitor.

White had long said the only way Slice would ever fight in UFC is if he earned a contract on the reality-TV competition, The Ultimate Fighter. When Slice took him up on the offer last year, he instantly earned the president’s respect.

Though Slice lost in the first round of the televised competition, White offered him a contract for a match last December. Slice surprised many by beating Houston Alexander on the show’s live season finale.

“He deserved another fight,” White said.

But after losing to Mitrione, White said Slice is at the end of the line right now.

“Couldn’t be a nicer guy,” White said. “Took this seriously. Trained hard. Went after it.”

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